At about 1 pm today a 6.3 earthquake at a depth of about 5km struck Christchurch today. Unlike the previous large quake ( 7.1 ) this one has claimed lives with some buildings collapsing. Emergency service staff are checking buildings for trapped survivors. The Army and Navy are assisting. The quake was centred near in the town C.B.D. The power is off and the airport is close until it can be checked for damage. It is reported that much of the city has been severely damaged. A large number of persons are being rescued from collapsed buildings.
